Fated Mate

She was in their home in New York. She ran from room to room trying to zero in on her dad’s voice. But this nightmare was different, she wasn’t five anymore. She got to the living room, there was blood splashed all over and there were several men staring at her moving closer to her. She ran out of the room when she heard her mother scream. She ended up in a redder room alone then her father started calling out for her again.

Merilee run!

Daddy…

Run Merilee!

I can’t see. There is too much red. Daddy, where are you? Daddy the red is scaring me, where are you!

Before it could get worse she heard Ash’s faint voice in her head, and it got louder each time he called her name pulling her out of the red room.

“Lee, Lee! Wake up!” Ash’s anxious voice pulled her out of the red hole she was in. “Wake up!” He held her tight, rocking her gently.

“Ash, oh God, Ash, I can’t stand it anymore! Make it stop, please make it stop!” she cried, holding him tight.

“I’ll try, I promise I’ll try.” He’s voice was firm, determined. She buried her face in his chest, hoping that he’d be able to keep his promise.

****

“Hi, sleepy head. You know, I don’t think its healthy sleeping for so long.” He turned and gave her his earthshaking smile. She could feel the shiver climb up her spin.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

He was cooking again, but this time, he looked like a demigod doing it. He was shirtless and his jeans were riding low. Clothes didn’t do him much justice. His muscled chest was wide and smooth, his torso long and lean, meeting up with his abdomen to form eight tight glorious cubes. His long arm stretched as he placed a plate on the table, showing off his toned biceps then it flexed to form a mountain as he threw the kitchen towel over his tattooed shoulder, those beautiful strong hard shoulders. His back was now turned to her, showing off his thick shoulder blades and the trench between them that ran down his back and ended above his tight ass.

She’d never noticed how much of him that tribal tattoo covered-half his chest and back-making him appeal to her even more.

Watching him stirred a heat so bad inside her, she was afraid to move. She stayed where she was leaning against the wall for support, but kept her eyes glued to him taking in as much pleasure as she possibly could from the magnificent sight.

“Did you hear what I said?” He turned and faced her, and then slowly, his lips curved up and formed his hypnotic smile, still holding the pan in one hand and a fork in the other.

He looked even more tempting; the heat inside her grew even bigger. Without thinking, she went to him, pulled his head down and kissed him hard.

He broke the kiss and looked down at her, his eyes half closed. “Someone’s in a good mood this afternoon.”

She was about to pull him back when she realized what he’d said. “Afternoon? How long have I been asleep?” He turned and placed the pan and fork in the sink.

“Close to ten hours, but after the night you had, it was deserved.” Her nightmares were the last thing she wanted to talk about, but he went on, “How’re you doing?”

“I thought that kiss was a dead giveaway.” She looked at him under her eyelashes, and his muscles tightened. She smiled. She had succeeded in changing the topic. That was a new useful trick. She moved to him slowly. “Hmm, then it mustn’t have been that good.” She slid her hands in his back pockets, cupping his buns in her palms. She planted light kisses on his chest. His body tightened with every kiss and his heartbeat raced.

She loved the fact she had this effect on him. When it came to this, they were on an even playing field.

She grazed her lips under his chin and over his neck, kissed his visible pulse then tiptoed to reach his ear, but she was still not close enough. She clamped her teeth gently on his lobe and pulled him lower, his head moved without resistance. She whispered, trying to sound as sexy as she possibly could, “Maybe I should try again…” She moved her hand and placed it on the back of his head. She fisted his hair in her hand and pulled him down, pressing his lips on hers.

His body came alive. He lifted her up and crushed her against him. She wrapped her legs around his waist, freeing his hands to roam all over her. The desperation in his hands drove her over the edge. His kiss was hard and fierce; he hadn’t kissed her like that since the first time they met. He moved, and then lowered her. The surface was soft, cushiony. She realized they were on the couch.

How did we get here so fast?

“Lee…” He was pulling away, but she pulled him back down with the ironclad hold she had around his waist. He fidgeted, trying to get free, but she held on.

“No more excuses.” She reached up and kissed him, pulling him down by his lips. He laid flat on top of her, but still held up his weight. She relaxed her hold on him and waited for the pleasure to begin. The second she did, he was up and off her before she realized what he was doing.

He leaned against the wall, looking away from her, struggling to control his breathing. She was shocked but mostly disappointed. She knew things were too good to be true, she never won. She leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes, taking in as much air as she could.

“You’re strong. Stronger than you should be,” Ash whispered in between ragged breaths.

His statement shocked her. It was close to offensive. She propped herself up on her elbows and starred at him furious, ready to let him have it, but the look on his face was confusion.